having issues wirh brown algae an ICH

Salty Devildog · 01/02/2015, 11:34 PM

Hey everyone! Been in this hobby for about a year now. So much fun and always something new to do or add. I've done ok so far with being stubborn and trying to do it all myself. Hahaha! Having a few issues I'd like the experts to answer. 1st. Brown algae!! Ahhh! Water is all good. Havnt checked phosphates. Test kit should be here any day. I do 5 gallon RO/DI WC each week. Only feed every other day also. 2nd I learned the hard way about adding fish without QT them! Lol! ICH!! A nightmare so to speak! Lost coral beauty, black clarkii,2 tomato clowns so far. Seems to not affect any of the damsels???? Other than that I'm holding my own!! Lol! Any advice would be greatly appreciated to help me fine tune things.

1fstnsx · 01/03/2015, 01:43 AM

I'm in the same boat as you are in now...following..

Dan_P · 01/03/2015, 06:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Salty Devildog

Hey everyone! Been in this hobby for about a year now. So much fun and always something new to do or add. I've done ok so far with being stubborn and trying to do it all myself. Hahaha! Having a few issues I'd like the experts to answer. 1st. Brown algae!! Ahhh! Water is all good. Havnt checked phosphates. Test kit should be here any day. I do 5 gallon RO/DI WC each week. Only feed every other day also. 2nd I learned the hard way about adding fish without QT them! Lol! ICH!! A nightmare so to speak! Lost coral beauty, black clarkii,2 tomato clowns so far. Seems to not affect any of the damsels???? Other than that I'm holding my own!! Lol! Any advice would be greatly appreciated to help me fine tune things.

Not sure what you mean by "fine tune". What aspect of the aquarium are you trying to fix? Also, starving your fish is not a prudent practice in maintaining an aquarium.

Salty Devildog · 01/03/2015, 06:20 AM

I didn't think I was starving them? I feed every other day. Open to suggestions.

julie180 · 01/03/2015, 06:29 AM

Would you like to eat every other day? Feed smaller amounts more often.

What are your numbers? What size tank, how much live rock, what lights etc. Its hard to give help without more information

Salty Devildog · 01/03/2015, 06:46 AM

Just going by what I was told to feed. 46 gallon bow front with CPR bakpak and fluval 70. Powerheads and Aquatic life 4 HO T5 lighting. PH is 8.2. Calcium is 425. Nitrates at 0. Salinity is 1.023. Have not checked phosphates. Kit is being shipped.

Nina51 · 01/03/2015, 08:16 AM

your damsels may survive ich but the parasite will remain in your tank until you take steps to eradicate it. as long as there is a host (your damsels), ich will live on. do you have a plan for getting rid of it?

gone fishin · 01/03/2015, 10:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nina51

your damsels may survive ich but the parasite will remain in your tank until you take steps to eradicate it. as long as there is a host (your damsels), ich will live on. do you have a plan for getting rid of it?

Nina speaks wisely. I would put your fish in QT and get rid of the ich. Using tank transfer method, copper, chloroquin phosphate, and my least favorite hyposalinity. You can find more info on the individual treatments in the fish disease forum.

In the meantime your tank will need to be fallow for 72 days. you can take this time to address your algae issue. Just my 2 cents.

FraggledRock · 01/03/2015, 10:51 AM

Check all parameters.

Salinity
Ammonia
Nitrites
Nitrates
Phosphate

Copper
Magnesium
Calcium
Alkalinity
Iron

Thats the basics

If you have corals use Reef Crystaks by instant ocean to make your saltwater.

Jeff210 · 01/03/2015, 11:51 AM

I second Nina and Tony...I have a 125 that had an ich outbreak and it remains dry to this day...

The most valuable lesson I learned (and it was a VERY expensive lesson) is QT...it is absolutely essential...

potterjon · 01/03/2015, 11:54 AM

I never feed more than every other day. Sometimes I will go a week without feeding if I think it is in the best interest of the tank. It is simply not needed unless you keep fish that need more such as Anthias. Most fish eat pods that are readily available. I would not change your feeding habits at all. Over feeding is the most common problem that causes nutrient overload. I think you are on the right track as far as that is concerned.

Dan_P · 01/03/2015, 05:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Salty Devildog

I didn't think I was starving them? I feed every other day. Open to suggestions.

Feed small amounts at lest twice a day. Fish in the wild eat graze all day.

Salty Devildog · 01/03/2015, 09:50 PM

Thanks Nina and Tony. I have been treating with garlic extreme and the fish look much better. It's keeps the fish eating so that's good. I'm getting a UV sterilizer also but know it only kills floating parasites. At first I wasn't treating the ICH and didn't loose a fish til I bought Herbtana!! Never use that crap! That's when I started losing fish!! Thanks everybody for the help.

01/02/2015, 11:34 PM	#1
Salty Devildog Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Lincolnton NC Posts: 14	having issues wirh brown algae an ICH Hey everyone! Been in this hobby for about a year now. So much fun and always something new to do or add. I've done ok so far with being stubborn and trying to do it all myself. Hahaha! Having a few issues I'd like the experts to answer. 1st. Brown algae!! Ahhh! Water is all good. Havnt checked phosphates. Test kit should be here any day. I do 5 gallon RO/DI WC each week. Only feed every other day also. 2nd I learned the hard way about adding fish without QT them! Lol! ICH!! A nightmare so to speak! Lost coral beauty, black clarkii,2 tomato clowns so far. Seems to not affect any of the damsels???? Other than that I'm holding my own!! Lol! Any advice would be greatly appreciated to help me fine tune things.

01/03/2015, 08:16 AM	#7
Nina51 biggliest cofveve champ Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: 5th floor, Illinois, gewgaw expert Posts: 3,506	your damsels may survive ich but the parasite will remain in your tank until you take steps to eradicate it. as long as there is a host (your damsels), ich will live on. do you have a plan for getting rid of it? __________________ of all the things i've lost, i miss my gary the most. Never hold your farts in. They travel up your spine into your brain, and that is where crappy ideas come from. Current Tank Info: i gave my reef away and i feel like a bird out of a cage!!

01/03/2015, 10:51 AM	#9
FraggledRock Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: New York, New York Posts: 2,185	Check all parameters. Salinity Ammonia Nitrites Nitrates Phosphate Copper Magnesium Calcium Alkalinity Iron Thats the basics If you have corals use Reef Crystaks by instant ocean to make your saltwater. __________________ “For most of history, man has had to fight nature to survive; in this century he is beginning to realize that, in order to survive, he must protect it.”― Jacques-Yves Cousteau MarineBio.org Current Tank Info: 40 Gallon Breeder w/ Bean Animal Overflow 20G Sump, Mixed Reef.

01/03/2015, 01:43 AM	#2
1fstnsx Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Posts: 68	I'm in the same boat as you are in now...following..

01/03/2015, 06:20 AM	#4
Salty Devildog Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Lincolnton NC Posts: 14	I didn't think I was starving them? I feed every other day. Open to suggestions.

01/03/2015, 06:29 AM	#5
julie180 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Raymore, MO Posts: 2,556	Would you like to eat every other day? Feed smaller amounts more often. What are your numbers? What size tank, how much live rock, what lights etc. Its hard to give help without more information

01/03/2015, 06:46 AM	#6
Salty Devildog Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Lincolnton NC Posts: 14	Just going by what I was told to feed. 46 gallon bow front with CPR bakpak and fluval 70. Powerheads and Aquatic life 4 HO T5 lighting. PH is 8.2. Calcium is 425. Nitrates at 0. Salinity is 1.023. Have not checked phosphates. Kit is being shipped.

01/03/2015, 11:51 AM	#10
Jeff210 Moved On Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: Mile High City Posts: 188	I second Nina and Tony...I have a 125 that had an ich outbreak and it remains dry to this day... The most valuable lesson I learned (and it was a VERY expensive lesson) is QT...it is absolutely essential...

01/03/2015, 11:54 AM	#11
potterjon Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Asheville,NC Posts: 933	I never feed more than every other day. Sometimes I will go a week without feeding if I think it is in the best interest of the tank. It is simply not needed unless you keep fish that need more such as Anthias. Most fish eat pods that are readily available. I would not change your feeding habits at all. Over feeding is the most common problem that causes nutrient overload. I think you are on the right track as far as that is concerned.

01/03/2015, 09:50 PM	#13
Salty Devildog Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Lincolnton NC Posts: 14	Thanks Nina and Tony. I have been treating with garlic extreme and the fish look much better. It's keeps the fish eating so that's good. I'm getting a UV sterilizer also but know it only kills floating parasites. At first I wasn't treating the ICH and didn't loose a fish til I bought Herbtana!! Never use that crap! That's when I started losing fish!! Thanks everybody for the help.